Project Entrepreneur looks to help women create 'high-growth, high-impact' businesses

Since the launch of Rent the Runway in 2009, co-founders Jenny Fleiss and Jennifer Hyman have raised more than $100 million in venture capital funding. Now, they're on a mission to help other women break into and disrupt industries through education programs and venture competitions.

In its second year, Project Entrepreneur — an initiative from the Rent the Runway Foundation and UBS Elevating Entrepreneurs — is continuing to help women develop "high-growth, high-impact" businesses through democratizing the resources necessary to launch their own startups.

"Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind job creation and economic growth in this country," said Lori Feinsilver, head of community affairs, UBS Americas. "And yet women remain underrepresented in the founder landscape. Our goal this year is to continue leveling the playing field for all innovators so that everyone has the opportunity to realize the impact of their work."

The competition is open to women entrepreneurs whose businesses are in the prototype or beta stages. The top 200 applicants will be invited to attend the PE Weekend Intensive in New York City on April 7-8, and the weekend will close with a live pitch competition where 12 finalists will present to a judging panel. Three winning teams will receive a cash prize of $10,000 each and a spot in a five-week accelerator program. Interested entrepreneurs can apply online until Nov. 21, 2016.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

This year, Project Entrepreneur — a media partner of Mashable — will also offer free summits in New York (Oct. 21) and Los Angeles (Nov. 9) where attendees can workshop their business ideas with successful entrepreneurs such as Baked By Melissa's Melissa Ben-Ishay and Zola's Shan-Lyn Ma. Space is limited, so be sure to register.

For those unable to attend the weekend intensive or summits in person, Project Entrepreneurs offers a number of resources at projectentrepreneur.org including #TheTools podcast, blog posts and educational modules.